Last Updated on September 23, 2020 by Ellen Christian
Check out these summer hiking tips and head outside with the kids. Now that school is over, I plan on spending some time with the kids. It’s hard to believe they’re 17 and 22. They’ll be moving out soon which doesn’t seem possible since just yesterday they were in kindergarten. At least it seems that way to me.
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10 Summer Hiking Tips
My son and I decided to do a day hiking trip. I’m far from an experienced hiker so we decided to find an easy trail to hike on. We have a local hiking trail called the Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail (or D&H Rail Trail) that traces an old Delaware and Hudson railroad line from Rutland, Vermont to Albany, New York. It played a big part in the slate industry in the 1800s in this area and it’s an absolutely gorgeous place to hike.
Before we set out, I reviewed the summer hiking tips with him. While he’s in better shape than I am, I have a bit more experience and wanted him to be prepared.
- Let someone know your route. While we only planned an afternoon hike, if you’re going a longer distance leave a detailed map with your route on it with a friend or relative.
- Take plenty of water with you. This is especially important in the hotter summer months. Stay hydrated.
- Stay on the trail. I know, you’re just going to go a little bit “over there” to get a better picture or check out that flower. People get lost that way. Stay on the trails.
- Be prepared for the weather. Carry a rain poncho and a light weight sweater in case the weather changes. You never know.
- Carry a whistle. 3 short blasts on a powerful whistle is the way to signal that you’re lost or in distress.
- Carry a GPS and a map. No one plans on getting lost. Don’t rely only on your GPS. There are areas they don’t work in.
- Remember the snacks. Hiking makes you hungry. No matter how short or long your hike is, always bring snacks for extra energy.
- Start hiking in the morning. Avoid the heat of the mid day and start hiking in the morning. Heat exhaustion is a possibility.
- Remember the sunscreen. I choose an SPF45 because I have fair skin. You should always have at least an SPF30.
- Use a hiking stick for balance. If you’ll be heading up or down inclines, a hiking stick can help you keep your balance.
- Don’t forget to take a break. There’s nothing wrong with sitting down and taking a break. Don’t over exert yourself. Hiking should be fun.
A snack containing carbohydrates is the best choice for an instant energy burst. You want to ensure that your snack has some amount of salt in it to add back any salt your body loses due to sweating. Nuts can provide a healthy fat which will help to slow down the release of energy from the carbohydrates and sugar you’re consuming.
My choice for our summer hike was Fisher Nut Exactly Snack Bites. These snack bites come in a variety of different flavors – each containing nuts, whole grain popcorn and a source of sugar for quick energy (milk chocolate, dark chocolate, salted caramel or peanut butter). This uniquely sweet & savory snack is both delicious, smart and gluten free. At 15 to 16 calories per snack bite, Fisher Nut Exactly makes smart snacking easy and fun.
Best of all, they contain no artificial preservatives, no artificial flavors, no high fructose corn syrup and have 0g trans fat per serving! They made a delicious snack for our afternoon hike.
Check out my day hiking gear list for a few ideas of what you should bring on your hike.
Ellen is a busy mom of a 24-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter. She owns six blogs and is addicted to social media. She believes that it doesn’t have to be difficult to lead a healthy life. She shares simple healthy living tips to show busy women how to lead fulfilling lives. If you’d like to work together, email info@confessionsofanover-workedmom.com to chat.
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